Dislike of certain foods-is it genetic or a learned behavior?

[DisneyBeagle]

Last night I met some friends for dinner at a local pizza place. The three of us arrived and ordered a combination pizza and about 20 minutes later another friend showed up with her son. The son took his piece of pizza and pulled off everything but the cheese, and the mom did the exact same thing except for the pepperoni. The funny thing was as the son removed the toppings, the mom said that he is horribly picky and she thinks that his distaste for certain foods must be inherited from the father.

It got me thinking...is this inherited or a learned behavior? I guess it could be a little of both.

 

[DisneyBeagle]

I'm sorry, I posted this on the wrong board. I meant for it to be on the family board. Anyone know how to get a moderator to move it?

 

[Tiger926]

New research is showing that pickiness is genetic in certain cases. This doesn't eliminate learned behaviour though as that rules over genetics in some cases, like your friend's, for instance. Kid more than likely eats this way for a little of both reasons, but more than likely he's modeling what he has been exposed to all of his life. Modeling is huge for children, but many parents just don't seem to get this. I laugh when parents complain that their kids won't eat fruits or veggies, yet these same parents only eat McDonald's (yuck!) or other junk foods. I see this with family members and it makes me sad that their kids are being exposed to terrible eating habits or picky eating habits all because many parents don't realize how important healthy eating for the entire family is. If you want your kids to eat healthy, not to smoke, etc., than you as a parent can't partake in these activities as kids model what they are continually exposed to on a daily basis - as a teacher I can attest to this!

Tiger

 

[LanaJae]

That's funny about the mom's comments!

I have two kids that will eat anything and two other kids who'll eat almost nothing out of the ordinary, and all four sat down to the same tables of food.

I used to think that if you listened to your body, it would tell you what to eat, but I am very allergic to one particular food and I actually crave it (and it's nothing exciting like chocolate lol)

 

[Cindy B]

Some of it is learned. My kids are the exact opposite: they will on the whole eat anything, Thai, Indian, Pakistan, Morroccan, spicy, sushi (real not the california roll stuff) you name it, they try it and most of the time, they LOVE it! Right now both of them are learning towards vegetarian cuisine.

We (DH and I) didn't want "limited palette" kids. When we used to watch our neice and nephews, we would see that all the time. So as our kids got older, we would try them on anything. If they saw us eating it, they would eat it- no questions asked.

However, we started them early in this food adaptation. If you don't start early and often, you will wind up with limited kids. It bugs me when our kids friends wont try anything to eat just because they don't like it. Have you tried it -- I ask? Then they say no. My daughter (10) is embarassed by most of her friends food preferences-- she even said to me "they eat like five year olds-- fish sticks, hot dogs, and mac n cheese" I'm impressed that my daughter notices these things. Some of it is parenting style as well-- I don't have the time or inclination to make four separate dinners for everyone in my house based on food preferences. I'd never leave the kitchen!

Granted there are a few things they don't like-- and I work around that.

My nephews don't like any green vegetables--the only vegetable they eat is corn. Guess who doesn't like any green vegetables? My BIL! That is definetely learned because they weren't introduced to it and followed BIL example.

I don't like peas. However, I serve in my family because everyone else likes them. I put a very small amount on my plate (I have to be an example) and eat them. I figure I'm an adult and can do things I really don't want-- this shows flexibility and adaptation to my kids.

 

[DawnM]

My DH is a VERY picky eater. It drives me crazy! I grew up eating whatever I was served and to this day I will eat whatever a host gives me, even if it isn't my favorite.

I have 2 kids who will try anything and 1 kid who is just like his dad, VERY picky!

I actually told DH before we got married that if we have a picky eater kid, HE had to deal with it because I can't handle it! And I can't. I am a "eat it now or eat it later, but you WILL eat it before you get anything else." Doesn't always work, but I try.

Dawn

 

[Iott Family]

I always used to think it was enviroment because my first two kids would eat anything until they started school then would come home with dislikes out of the blue. Then I married my second husband who is a picky picky eater and our first child together eats everything but our second who is now 21 months old is soooo particular. She will not eat rice no matter how many ways I serve it up or disguise it and she refuses most cooked vegetables but will eat some raw. That is just a few examples. She is definitely a genetic picky eater! Thankfully my other three will eat a wide variety and are willing to test new things!

 

[rflorek]

I am a much more adventurous eater than my younger sister, mom, and dad, so I don't think that it's learned or genetic (at least in my case). The only eating habit that we all have in common is that we overeat (although we all overeat different items).

Also, another poster mentioned smoking along with eating as something that may be learned. Both my parents smoked (my dad quit cold turkey when I was about 10, my mom just quit cold turkey 3 years ago), and none of their children smoke.

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

I think it can be both. My DD8 will try most anything - she is more adventurous than many adults I know! DD4 is the opposite - she exists on a menu of about ten foods. There are a couple of reasons for this - DD8 loves to eat, cook, and try new things; DD4 is not at all food-motivated - she won't eat dessert if she is not hungry, she doesn't get excited about special meals or treats - it just is not a priority for her. DD4 has sensory issues, so she responds more to texture than to taste. She rules out foods based on mouth feel, and no amount of trying them or coaxing her will make her want to eat them. I have some similar tendencies - I can't eat mushrooms even if I can't taste them (like in a sauce) - I can't get past the texture.

Both of my girls used to love broccoli until an older child told them it was gross - now they won't touch it! That's definitely learned behavior - and broccoli is one of my favorite veggies, so we serve it a lot.

Interesting thread!

 

[pyrxtc]

I think it's both. my mother won't eat anything new and even if you cook it a different way or use different spices, she'll turn it down. My yougest brother is very close to the same way but the rest of us (4) will try anything and enjoy a variety of foods. We all love spices and flavor.

 

[1rockinmamato2]

I found this news article a while back. I thought it was intriguing since DH is such a picky eater. It really is his mother's fault.

http://www.cfnews13.com/News/Science/2007/8/27/study_fear_of_new_foods_mostly_genetic.html

 

[kellyg403]

A very interesting question! I don't really have any picky eaters. I have two dd's who don't care for meat and I have two kids that really don't care for rice. They will eat them if that is all there is but overall they would rather not
All my food issues are actually learned behaviors. I dislike pizza alot. But after delivering pizza for about 4 years, the smell alone gets to me. I still order pizza for the gang but oftentimes I eat leftovers. I also back in school was a salad bar girl. I can not stand ranch dressing. That stuff would get into your pores I think. Both of these items I ate in abundance growing up so I did/do like them? I have a sensitive nose, I have a tendency to not see food but smell it.

As for the smoker thing. Neither of my parents smoked. My bio father who I have not seen since I was 5 years old smoked. I smoke and a younger brother smoke. Don't know why but wonder sometimes if it is true about the "gene" you inherit. Since I never grew up around it, it was pure peer stuff when I started. But my mom's mom, she smoked like a chimney!

I got lucky, all of my children are ready and willing to try new foods, love a variety of veggies, raw or cooked. The only real issue in my house is pork. I can't really get them or dh to eat it even though I have tried many recipies. Its too expensive to waste. My sister has 2 children and they are pretty picky...mac n cheese and a few other things are their total diet. But, it works for them.

Kelly

 

[kfeuer]

Here's another article about a study showing that some people have more taste buds then others:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/2880471.stm

I think this makes alot of sense, and why there can be so many variations on pickiness within families. I'm picky, and I don't blame my mom one bit--it's just part of the way I was made. I have weird and specific likes and dislikes and that's the way it goes. Some things I'm glad I don't like since they're fattening anyway (like cheese).

 

[linda0706]

Here's one that's definitely LEARNED: My DD7 heard my SIL say several months ago that she didn't like onions. DD decided then & there on the spot that she didn't like onions either.

Even to this day, if she sees me putting onions in something she will refuse to eat it. However if I make the very same dish (with onions) out of her sight, she'll gobble it up.

 

[arminnie]

I don't like peas. However, I serve in my family because everyone else likes them. I put a very small amount on my plate (I have to be an example) and eat them. I figure I'm an adult and can do things I really don't want-- this shows flexibility and adaptation to my kids.

When my late mother was ill 10 years ago I was here doing a lot of cooking for her trying to get her to eat during chemo. I thought of all the things she used to cook.

When I mentioned liver (which I love) she told me that she hated it. I laughed and said "why did you cook it once a week". She replied that's what she thought a good mother was supposed to do. (1950s).

Although we always had a salad and two vegetables with each dinner I never tasted squash until I was an adult. Not sure if she didn't like it or if it just wasn't as available decades ago. We did eat a lot of canned vegetables.

 

[Faerie]

I am a super picky eater because many foods don't sit well with me. I joke that I have the taste buds of a 5 year old. There are so many foods I can't eat because of the reaction I have to them, that I have developed a total dislike for them

 

[surfgirl]

What an interesting thread!

I'm a picky eater.... and embarrassed about it (do they have a 12-step program for that ?) I was made to eat EVERYTHING growing up - a 'no thank you' portion was about 3 bites. (I remember being served beets for breakfast b/c I refused to eat them from the dinner before - they were saved and re-served until I ate them). To this day, I still can't stomach certain foods, although I'm certainly better than I was For a long time, I couldn't even stand the smell of pb and *hated* if touched me (bleck). I can now at least make sandwiches for my kids without freaking out!

(btw, I'm adopted, my mom who raised me is a nutritionist and always served a variety of foods).

Of our 3 kids, we have one DD who is a good eater, one DD who is horrible (thank goodness she at least eats pb daily and loves fruit), and my DS doesn't like chocolate (clearly not my son!).

Coincidentally, my DD who is incredibly picky has an extremely strong sense of smell. I think she has stronger taste buds than others. thoughts ?

 

[branv]

Oh it's definitely part learned and part genetic. I've always had a strange reaction to cilantro. As soon as I bite into fresh cilantro, it's as though this toxic gas fills my mouth. Another friend of mine has the same issue. One day I read that cilantro is an item that some types of people are genetically predisposed to taste differently. Weird, huh?

When I met DH, he was very picky about food, but he came from a very limited societal experience. Moving to a larger city, meeting new people and believe it or not, traveling for business has really made him more willing...actually, excited...to try new things. What we've figured out, though, is that what he's had issues with in the past and still struggles with are long-term, deep-seated perception and TEXTURE. I've seen him eat something before and say, "This actually tastes really good, but I'm having a hard time with it" b/c his past childhood food prejudices are still fighting with his brain saying "ewww, gross!!!", or the texture is freaking him out. Like onions -- he will tell you he doesn't like onions. But I've actually fed him onions lots of times, just camo'd them. As long as he doesn't know he's eating it, the taste doesn't bother him. He also won't drink milk on the expiration date even if I taste it and tell him it's fine. I always joke with him that there is not a chip in the milk that causes it to self-destruct on the expiration date, but he simply can't get past it.

Personally, I have some of the same issues with some sushi. I can eat the rolls, but I can't do nigiri or sashimi. My mind just freaks out. Although, oddly enough, I love beef carpaccio and my steaks rare. And I can't eat warm fruit. We all have our weird things.

 

[wishspirit]

i am a picky eatter! I have a quite highly developed sense of smell and the texture of food is very important to me. I wont eat cheese, cause to me it stinks of sick or a lot of seafood cause i cant stand the smell. If i cant smell or taste it within food i will eat it, like pizza is fine as long as it doesnt have too much cheese. I am also allergic to pepperoni.

I can be a bit picky when i go out, but i will try most things, will eat my veggies and generally be polite about eatting. I have found that things i used to say i hated as a child such as beetroot, i have tried again as an adult and really liked! I always try things a second time!

 

[believen]

I have a sister that was given up for adoption at birth. We share a biological mother - different fathers. She is 10 years older than me. We did not meet until I was in my teens. The first time we spent a week together I was 36 with 3 kids and she was 46 with 3 kids, both happily married. Our taste in food was identical! She was raised in a family that had a real breakfast every morning eggs, bacon, biscuits. My mom served me pop tarts, brownies, chocolate chip cookies, donuts etc. for breakfast. My sister said her mom finally let her at about age 6 (after years of gagging ) pick a snack for breakfast and eat it in her room- her favorite choices- chocolate chip cookies, brownies, donuts lol. We also do not like our foods to touch- something she did not learn from her family that prefered casseroles and the only vegetables we will eat are green beans, corn, and carrots- which were the only ones I was ever offered and her mom served every vegetable you could grow. We found it very interesting that our cabinets were full of almost identical things. She lives in Nebraska and I live in Texas. another strange thing -we share the same first name! My mom was not aware of the name she had been given and my father named me.